Courtney McGrailPalestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has offered a personal donation to restoration works on the tomb of Jesus at Jerusalem’s Church of the Holy Sepulchre.
Mr Abbas announced his intention to make such a donation during an October 17 visit to the West Bank of Christian Church leaders representing the faith traditions having special responsibility for the Holy Sepulchre. Greek-Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem Theophilos III, Apostolic Armenian Patriarch of Jerusalem Nourhan Manougian and Fr Francesco Patton OFM, Custos of the Holy Land travelled to Ramallah to meet with President Abbas.
Addressing his guests – who were joined by Issa Kassissyeh, Palestinian ambassador to the Holy See – the Palestinian leader stated: “The Basilica of the Holy Sepulchre is a national and religious symbol for the Palestinian people.
“We have the duty to take care of it, to protect it and to contribute to its restoration. Therefore, we have decided to offer a personal contribution to the ongoing restoration of the Tomb of Christ.”
Major restoration work in and around the tomb of Christ commenced in May, with a projected cost of €3million.